Trump is no champion of LGBTQ; felons must pay own fines, restitution to get voting rights | Letters to the Editor

South Florida Sun Sentinel|

Feb 03, 2020 | 7:00 AM

Some Sun Sentinel readers take issue with last week's op-ed writer who called President Trump the "most pro-gay" president in history. Andrew R. Brett, president of the Broward Log Cabin Republicans, wrote that Trump has been a champion for the LGBTQ community. (Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA/TNS)

Trump is no champion of LGBTQ

I was not surprised by Andrew Brett’s Jan. 27 op-ed — “President Donald Trump is the most Pro-Gay Republican President in History”. Gay Republicans have an interesting view of the world.

What surprised me was the statement that “Trump has been more openly supportive of gay rights than former President Obama was when he was first elected in 2008”. Obama’s view of LGBTQ rights evolved at the same rate as society.

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Claiming Trump as the “most Pro-Gay Republican president in history” is as untrue as any of Trump’s 13,000+ documented lies and half-truths. Read the Nov. 22 ProPublica article for why the LGBTQ is going backward, not forward.

As for Trump’s leadership on the economy and how it’s of “great importance to every LGBT individual and family living in America.” I will not argue about the economy, but the idea is truly laughable.

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What good will your money do when your marriage is annulled, you are denied housing, your health care is compromised, trans people are denied acceptance into military service (and bathrooms and prisons), your adoptions or parental rights are denied, you are refused service because the establishment asserts religious beliefs and LGBT youth are not protected from bullying and violence in schools.

Bob Young, Fort Lauderdale

Why Trump is not most pro-gay president in history

In response to Andrew Brett’s Jan. 27 op-ed, “Why Trump is the most pro-gay president in U.S. history”, President Trump is not a friend to the LGBT community.

You chastise the LBGT community for not recognizing a few human rights proposals, mostly not exclusive to the LBGT community, and the appointment of a gay ambassador, meanwhile prohibiting our embassies from flying the rainbow flag during Gay Pride Month.

Where were you when Trump ordered the military to ban transgenders?

Where were you when Trump pushed to define gender only by the one assigned at birth, excluding gender identity as a basis for gender based discrimination?

Where were you when Trump repealed an Obama order that allowed transgender people to use bathrooms that correspond with their identity?

Where were you when Trump supported denial of health care to transgenders?

Where were you when Trump supported denial of LGBT adoptions?

The list goes on. Shame on you.

Grace Timmer, Pompano Beach

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School vouchers and LGBT

I cannot condone using my tax dollars for vouchers to send students to schools that do not allow LGBT students.

These schools certainly have a right to teach their values, but not while using public money to exclude students who are not breaking the law of the state.

Fran Menzel, Pompano Beach

Do the crime, pay the fine yourself

In a Jan. 27 letter to the editor, a writer suggested two rich Democrat presidential candidates pay off the financial restitution portions of Florida felon’s sentences, which would allow them to “rejoin society” and vote.

Doing so defeats the entire point of punishment for committing a crime. By his measure, why not hire someone to do your jail time, too (a replacement convict)?

If the repercussions for law-breaking are nil, crime increases. We see that already in California with shoplifting and the Prop 47 law in which anything below $950 keeps the crime a misdemeanor — and likely means the thieves face no pursuit and no punishment, say retailers and law enforcement officials.

If you did the crime, do the time and pay the fine. Yourself. Personal responsibility is paramount in a lawful civil society.